Lena Savoie
Planning a trip on a Carnival cruise ship can be exciting, but it's easy for costs to quickly add up, especially when it comes to alcoholic drinks. Luckily, there are several ways to save money on alcohol during your trip. From taking advantage of drink packages like the CHEERS! program, to bringing your own drinks on board, to exploring the ports and finding cheaper drinks onshore, you can enjoy your cruise without breaking the bank. Read on to discover more tips and tricks for an enjoyable and budget-friendly Carnival cruise experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Drink packages | Carnival offers the CHEERS! package, which covers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for a fixed price per day. It includes a 25% discount on wine and champagne by the bottle. |
| Early booking | Booking early can help save money, as fares tend to be lower for bookings made 76-91 days before departure. |
| Bring your own drinks | Passengers over 21 years old can bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne onboard. There is a $15 corkage fee to consume it in restaurants or bars. |
| Drink in port | Alcoholic drinks in port are often cheaper than on the ship. |
| Free drinks | Participating in onboard activities, such as karaoke, games, and competitions, can sometimes result in winning free drinks. |
| Drink prices | Beer: from $6.50; Wine: from $9.50; Mixed drinks: $7.50-$20.00; Cocktails: from $10.50 |
| Drink limit | A maximum of 15 alcoholic drinks per person, per 24-hour period is allowed. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Bring your own drinks
One way to save money on alcohol on a Carnival cruise is to bring your own drinks. Each guest aged 21 or over is allowed to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne in their carry-on on embarkation day. There is a corkage fee of $15 per bottle if you drink it in the main dining room, specialty restaurants or bars, but you can avoid this by drinking it in your room. You can also bring up to 12 cans or cartons of non-alcoholic drinks such as soda, sparkling water, juice or energy drinks.
It's important to note that you can't bring duty-free alcohol on board to drink during the cruise. The ship will hold any duty-free purchases for you until disembarkation day. So, if you're planning to bring your own drinks, it's best to bring them in your carry-on at the beginning of the cruise.
If you want to save money on drinks, it's also worth considering the Carnival Cheers package. This covers almost all of your beverage consumption (alcoholic or otherwise) under one fixed price per day. It includes a 25% discount on full bottles of wine and champagne. However, it's important to note that the package has a drink limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per 24-hour period and each drink costs a maximum of $20. So, if you're planning to drink a lot of alcohol, you might want to consider the package in combination with bringing your own bottle of wine or champagne.
Another way to save money on alcohol is to take advantage of happy hours, boozy activities, drink packages, and cocktail-tasting events. You may be able to get discounted drinks or free samples through wine tastings or mixology workshops. Beach tours are also a great way to get cheaper drinks.
Alcohol-Related Muscle Cramps: Understanding the Difference
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Take advantage of happy hours
Taking advantage of happy hours is a great way to save money on alcohol while on a Carnival cruise. Happy hours at onshore bars and restaurants are often cheaper than those onboard, and can be a great way to get your favourite cocktail or drink at a discounted price.
Happy hours are a great time to sample new drinks and save money while doing so. You can also take advantage of drink packages, cocktail-tasting events, and boozy activities offered by the cruise, which can provide alcoholic drinks at discounted rates or even for free. These events are a great way to socialise and try new drinks without breaking the bank.
Keep an eye out for beach tours that offer drink packages, as these can be more affordable than purchasing drinks individually onboard. If you're looking to save money, it's a good idea to opt for these cheaper alternatives when available.
Additionally, cruise lines often sell various products at high prices to make up for the low cost of the trip. By being mindful of this, you can make informed choices and save money on alcohol. For example, you may find that a cold beer from an outside convenience store is cheaper than buying one onboard.
Overall, taking advantage of happy hours and similar offerings can significantly reduce your spending on alcohol during your Carnival cruise.
Alcohol Naming Rules: Double Bonds
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Book an older ship
While booking a Carnival cruise, you may want to consider opting for an older ship. Older ships in the Carnival fleet tend to be smaller and have fewer amenities than the newer, larger ships. This means that the overall cost of the cruise may be lower, which can translate to savings for passengers.
Older ships often have lower base prices for cruises, and while they may not have the same level of modern amenities as newer ships, they can still offer a comfortable and enjoyable cruising experience. They usually have fewer speciality restaurants and entertainment options, which can result in lower overall spending during the cruise.
Additionally, older ships typically have a lower passenger capacity, which can lead to a more intimate and personalised experience. This may also mean that there is less demand for alcoholic beverages, potentially resulting in better drink deals and promotions onboard. With a lower passenger count, you may also find more opportunities to take advantage of drink packages and promotions, allowing you to maximise your savings.
Booking an older ship can be a strategic way to save money on alcohol during your Carnival cruise. By considering the overall cruise experience and taking advantage of the deals offered on older ships, you can enjoy your vacation without breaking the bank.
Smartphone Alcohol Bath: Safe or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Buy drinks in port
One of the best ways to save money on alcohol is to buy drinks when you're in port. Alcoholic drinks in bars and restaurants on land are likely to be much cheaper than those on the ship. You can also take advantage of happy hour deals and cheap packages at bars and restaurants near the port.
If you're visiting a duty-free port, you can buy alcohol to drink when you get back on the ship. The ship will hold any duty-free alcohol purchases for you until the end of the cruise. However, be aware that you won't be able to drink duty-free alcohol that you've bought on board.
You can also save money by buying drinks in port and drinking them in your cabin. Each adult passenger is allowed to bring one 750ml bottle of wine or champagne on board. There's a corkage fee of $15 per bottle if you want to drink it in a restaurant or bar, but you can avoid this by bringing a corkscrew and drinking it in your cabin.
Alcohol Abuse and Laxative Misuse: A Diarrhea Link
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Get a drink package
Carnival Cruise Line offers a drink package called CHEERS!, which allows guests to purchase drinks at a convenient flat rate. The package includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, such as sodas, zero-proof frozen cocktails, energy drinks, specialty coffee, hot tea, bottled water, and other non-alcoholic bottled drinks.
The CHEERS! package has a daily drink limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per 24-hour period, with a value limit of $20 per drink. It is important to note that only one drink can be ordered at a time, with a five-minute wait time between orders, and sharing is not permitted. The package can be purchased before the cruise or at various bar locations on the ship. If bought beforehand, guests can save $5 per day, but it is non-refundable. The package can also be purchased on board, but only for the entire voyage, and it is non-transferable.
The CHEERS! package does not include full bottles of wine and champagne. However, guests can purchase these at a 25% discount. Additionally, guests who are 21 or older can bring one 750-milliliter bottle of wine or champagne in their carry-on on embarkation day. A corkage fee of $15 per bottle applies if consumed in the main dining room, specialty restaurants, or bars.
The Bottomless Bubbles package, which is included in the CHEERS! program, offers unlimited soda and juice for a flat price. This package can be purchased separately for children and adults.
Fatigue: A Common Sign of Alcohol Recovery
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Carnival Cruise Lines offer the CHEERS! beverage package, which allows guests to purchase drinks at a flat rate. The package includes most alcoholic drinks up to $20 each and can be purchased for the whole cruise at a rate of $82.54 USD per person, per day, including an 18% service charge. You can save $5 per day by purchasing the package before you sail.
The package includes alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine, mixed drinks, and cocktails. It also includes non-alcoholic drinks like soda, energy drinks, specialty coffee, hot tea, and bottled water.
Yes, there are a few strategies to save money on alcohol. Carnival allows each cruiser to bring their own alcohol, such as one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per person (age 21 and up). You can drink this in your cabin for free or pay a reasonable $15 corkage fee to enjoy it in an onboard restaurant or bar. You can also take advantage of happy hours, boozy activities, and cocktail-tasting events, where alcoholic drinks may be offered at discounted rates or as free samples.
Yes, booking early can help you get lower fares, and older Carnival ships tend to have lower prices than newer ones. You can also bring your own non-alcoholic drinks, such as soda, sparkling water, juice, or energy drinks, to avoid spending money on soft drinks onboard.
